By Susan Orr
NEWBURGH — When Jim Seibert feels like taking a walk or a bicycle ride, the opportunity to do so is right at his doorstep.
Seibert lives on French Island Trail, and the newest section of Newburgh's Rivertown Trail passes within a few feet of his front door.
Several times a week Seibert uses the trail, and he's in good company when he does.
"It is just packed with people every day — and it's not just Newburgh people," Seibert said.
Local residents and elected officials gathered Saturday to dedicate Phase Two of the Rivertown Trail. The 1.65-mile walking and cycling path extends from the Old Lock and Dam Park to the new lock and dam east of town. This portion of the trail is an extension of the original part of the trail, a 1-mile stretch which runs from the Old Lock and Dam Park west to the intersection of Indiana 662 and Yorkshire Road.
The new stretch is an asphalt trail that varies from 6 to 10 feet wide, with benches and trash cans at periodic intervals. In spots where the trail runs near French Island Trail, safety curbing separates trail from road. Likewise, metal railings keep users from veering off the trail in areas where the adjacent land slopes steeply toward the Ohio River.
The trail has been a major effort for the small town, which has partnered with Warrick County officials and the Army Corps of Engineers on the project.
Newburgh Town Manager Cynthia Burger said community leaders started talking about building a trail about 15 years ago, though efforts did not begin in earnest until 2004.
Phase Two alone cost $2.7 million, Burger said, and that cost was covered through several sources. The town received $1 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money. Federal and state transportation funding, Warrick County Council, the Alcoa Foundation, the Women's Club of Newburgh, the Newburgh Garden Club and individual donors also helped the town pay for the project.
Construction itself also posed some challenges.
Portions of the trail run adjacent to the river, and in spots the land slopes steeply between trail and river.
In order to stabilize the ground, general contractor Ragle Inc. had to drive steel pilings 10 feet below bedrock.
For several months, the eastbound lane of French Island Trail was closed to accommodate trail construction. And while Ragle was doing the piledriving work, both lanes of the road were closed.
Installing the metal railings was another big challenge, Ragle said, because the uneven topography made it difficult to install the sections so they would be even with one another.
Those involved with the project said the work was worth it.
Burger, who said she uses the trail daily, said she can tell from vehicle license plates that the trail is drawing people from beyond Newburgh.
"We also see a lot of '82' (Vanderburgh County) license plates, so we know people from Evansville are using it — and that's great."
Trail work is not yet complete.
The Alcoa Foundation has donated money in order to construct a Phase Two trail spur that extends up Indian Hill to Overlook Park. That portion should be completed by spring, Burger said.
The city also envisions a Phase Three, which would extend the trail west 1.85 miles, from Yorkshire Road to Angel Mounds State Historic Site. The goal, Burger said, is to connect the Rivertown Trail with Evansville's Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage, which is also planned to extend to Angel Mounds.
Newburgh has had preliminary design work done for Phase Three, Burger said, but it still has to find money for construction.
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